Why did you choose...?

Well I have a Defender.

I don't think I could explain all the factors in my decision but I knew I wanted a capable off-roader.

I considered a wrangler 4 door also and still consider them to be a good vehicle. BUT there was something about the 'Fender which no other vehicle I have driven has. It is an acquired taste I believe but about 8 years ago was the first time I think I got in a 'fender and I knew that it was going to be what I owned when I was older. It was like the saying "love at first sight".

I don't doubt a disco or a toyota or even a suzuki could do what I want with a few little mods but driving the Defender is something special. Not a time goes past where I start her up and I don't get that fantastic feeling which I just have never got with any other vehicle. I was in the kitchen this morning wondering how long I will keep it for and if I did the right thing by buying it and as long as nothing hugely goes wrong I think this is a keeper for many, many years.

Xavier.

I was introduced to Landrovers in the Army. The standard fodder for Recovery Mechanics being the Series 2, 2a and 3's we had before the Perentie fleet.
HAnging around the workshops and being a spare bod meant plenty of black hand work on vehicles.
One of our Spanners, (Scotty) was/is an absolute Landrover freak and he gave me the first hint of affection for a vehicle that needs constant minor attention.
Really, thats all Landrovers need, being a big "Mecanno set on wheels" as Scotty put it, unlike Jap forbys that might seem to go forever with no maintenance, but cost an arm and a leg to repair when something major happens.
Mrs Hymie wasn't enraptured by Defenders so a Discovery 1 was found.
I wanted a non electronic Turbo Diesel so the 200-300 Tdi was the main need.
Now, after putting SWMBO through a 4WD training course she wants a 130!
Smart Woman that.

Went to a 4wd show with a mate in Brizzy about '89,, been racing with him for a year or so so, towing the car with a 88 Hiline from all points between Sealake and Goondiwindi.

Had my first glimpse of the Disco then and thought -- one day.
Took till '97 but I got one,, had it for ten years,, then the opportunity arose to upgrade,,

whats a guy to do?

V8 Auto D2 Ace SLS:cool:

This is a bit embarrassing . . . but I had a '74 Cortina station wagon. Actually, with the 4.1 engine it went very well, though all the same it was a really ugly car. Anyway, in 1988, not knowing any better, I took it on a surf trip with my brother and his scrappy mates, and when we finally made it home after jumping it over a sandy hill and scratching the underneath on a rocky track, I said, "That's it! I'm getting a Land-Rover!"

I have no idea why it had to be a Landie. Somehow I knew they had a good reputation.

Luckily, by '89 there were a lot of Series Landies still in fairly good condition for not too much money and I was able to afford it. The bug bit bigtime and has stuck ever since.

The thing is, it was a car that wasn't going to rust out, had lots of flat body and chassis parts that I could repair myself, and, as said above, it only needed lots of small repairs. It wasn't really possible for anything hugely expensive to go wrong. There just weren't any really expensive parts on it! That's what allowed me to get into four-wheel-driving and travelling Australia, and has also made it possible for me to keep it for the last 18 years. Would that have happened with anything else?

I'm with blknight. Easy to work on hoseable inside & out. But I first got interested when a Hilux devotee who now has a v8 rangie toy said they have the best wheel travel you can get from the factory. The Disco's look good and are very comfy but had the same issues as my pajero in that they can be damaged a lot more easily and you have to be careful about getting mud or water inside. My paj got stuck in a big bog hole one winter and I had to remove the entire carpet and wash and dry it. It was out for about two months. In a defender the water flows in and the water flows out, no harm. The approach and departure points are steel and high. The body lies inside the line of the wheels. You can take a fenda bush and not worry about panel damage.
Steve.

I've always been a Rangie fan. Comfortable to drive on and off-road and for many years the benchmark in 4WD's overall.

I spent a good chunk of my childhood in a MQ Patrol and with cart springs, no air con or power steering. The bone-jarring ride of a SWB didn't help but it was reliable and the old SD33 naturally aspirated Diesel whilts a slug never broke down.

The old man always wanted a Rangie but could never afford to buy one for a long time, but by the early 90's they had dropped to a more affordable price and Dad bought a 81 2 door (in hidious Bahama Gold, or baby***** brown as I call it) and when I got my learners permit a couple of years later, I was hooked and wanted one for myself. Great ride on-road, even better off-road and relitivly powerful (not a road rocket) but it sounded superb.

It wasn't til '96 when I bought my first Rangie (76 2 door and lots of rust to boot I found out much later on :eek:), started to tinker and repair the Rangie (I was an 2nd year apprentice baker at the time, hence no money to get it done professionally), built up a great toolkit, joined a club and the rest as they say was history. I had a ball though in my first Rangie, especially with a rear CIG locker (too poor for maxi drives) and cheap **** muddies which I bought from the local wreckers at the time. Motor was well worn out IICR but moreys is your friend I found out, low range would jump out at times (ocky strap worked wrapped around the diff lock button).

It was a POS overall but I learnt a hell of a lot about Rangie I'll say. 7 Rangies on I still think they're great.

Trav

Choice??? :confused:

Choice!!! :o

You think I got a say in the matter???

I was lucky enough to have a father with exceptional taste, and a (reasonably) convinced mother! :D
Brought up in, around, doing the odd job on, playing spot the Landrover, etc. leaves no room for discussion! :p

Come to think of it, I mightn't do blood tests now, lest they find EP90 in my veins!!! ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by d3funct

So we all own Landrovers.

But we have different models... and in the end we all chose the cars we have - we didnt have guns held to our heads upon purchase [I hope!]

So why did you choose your Defender...?
Or your Range Rover...?
Or your Discovery...?


Personally, I've always loved the shape of the Discoverys.

Series 1 more than Series 2, but Series 3 takes the cake with icing!!!

They are just as capable, comfortble and roomy as anything else I could think of :)

You?

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ever since i was a yougin ive had a facination with the door handels of the d1 admitly with the range first but from then on, again the facination with the door handels on the discovery and its shape allways caught my interest in the street

mmmmm door handels u say !! yhea i know dont laugh

cheers

I wonder what it was about baby **** brown in the early 80's?? lots of manufacturers had a similar colour--

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

I wonder what it was about baby **** brown in the early 80's?? lots of manufacturers had a similar colour--

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:D

Must be time for a revival :eek:...In fashion circles brown is described as "the new black".